Cyclone Chido Crisis Unfolds Amid Tensions And Humanitarian Needs

In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, Mayotte is facing an urgent crisis as authorities race to prevent hunger, disease and lawlessness from taking hold in the French overseas territory, reports Cape town Etc .

Mayotte is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique.

The islands, devastated by winds of up to 200 kph, are grappling with severe destruction, leaving hundreds, possibly thousands, of people dead. The storm, the most powerful to strike Mayotte in over 90 years, hit the archipelago off the coast of east Africa before sweeping across mainland Mozambique, causing widespread loss of life.

Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, the mayor of Mayottes capital, Mamoudzou, confirmed that at least 22 people had died and over 1 400 had been injured. He mentioned that the priority at that moment was water and food. Soumaila added that there were people who had unfortunately died, and the bodies were beginning to decompose, creating serious health risks. He also warned that criminal activity was rising under the cover of darkness due to the ongoing power outages, explaining that, without electricity, people were taking advantage of the situation when night fell.

In response, the French government pledged immediate relief, sending 20 tonnes of food and water by air and sea, with plans to restore 50 of water supplies within 48 hours. A curfew was also implemented from 10pm to 4am local time to restore order amid the chaos. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors amid the wreckage of shattered homes and infrastructure, but with large parts of the island still inaccessible, the full scale of the devastation remained unclear.